Connector with enhanced mounting process

Abstract

A connector ( 1 ) for fastening a first component ( 100 ) to a second component ( 200 ) of a motor vehicle, includes a bearing collar ( 10 ) for bearing against the first component ( 100 ), a crossbar ( 20 ) having one or more upper bearing surfaces ( 21.1, 21.2 ) for bearing against the second component ( 200 ) and for bracing the second component ( 200 ) against the first component ( 100 ) in a rotated final assembly position, a shaft portion ( 30 ) for passing through corresponding apertures ( 110, 210 ) in the components ( 100, 200 ), and fastening means ( 40 ) for fastening the connector ( 1 ) to the first component ( 100 ) in a preassembly position. A rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) is configured to block rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) in the preassembly position and only to release said rotation when the connector ( 1 ) has moved from the preassembly position in the direction of the final assembly position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector ( 1 ), wherein the connector ( 1 ) is configured to fasten a first component ( 100 ) to a second component ( 200 ) of a motor vehicle, wherein the connector ( 1 ) comprises:
 an integrally molded plastic member that includes:
 a bearing collar ( 10 ) for bearing against an upper side ( 120 ) of the first component ( 100 ), 
 a crossbar ( 20 ) having one or more upper bearing surfaces ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) for bearing against a lower side ( 220 ) of the second component ( 200 ) and for bracing the second component ( 200 ) against a lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ) in a rotated final assembly position, 
 a shaft portion ( 30 ) which supports the crossbar ( 20 ) and is oriented in the axial direction, for passing through corresponding apertures ( 110 ,  210 ) in the components ( 100 ,  200 ), and 
 fastening means ( 40 ) for fastening the connector ( 1 ) to the first component ( 100 ) in a preassembly position, 
 wherein, in addition to the crossbar ( 20 ), the connector ( 1 ) has a rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) which is arranged between the crossbar ( 20 ) and the bearing collar ( 10 ) and is configured to block rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) in the preassembly position and only to release said rotation when the connector ( 1 ) has moved from the preassembly position in the direction of the final assembly position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) is configured to only release the rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) when the one or more upper bearing surfaces ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) of the crossbar ( 20 ) are arranged spaced apart at a certain axial minimum distance (d_min 1 ) of at least the material thickness (D) of the second component ( 200 ) or of at least 0.7 mm in relation to the lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ). 
     
     
       3. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) has one or more radially outwardly directed projections as blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) on the shaft portion ( 30 ). 
     
     
       4. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the fastening means ( 40 ) has at least one radially outwardly protruding upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and at least one radially outwardly protruding lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) which is spaced apart axially therefrom, wherein the two latching projections ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ,  43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) are arranged between the bearing collar ( 10 ) and the crossbar ( 20 ) and wherein the one or more blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) are at least partially arranged axially between the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ). 
     
     
       5. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) are arranged on a substantially axially oriented skirt ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ) connected flexibly to the bearing collar ( 10 ) or to the shaft portion ( 30 ). 
     
     
       6. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the connector ( 1 ) has at least two such skirts ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ), wherein the skirts ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ) are curved in the shape of a cylinder jacket on their radially outer side, and the two skirts ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ) lie on the same imaginary cylinder jacket, and wherein the blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) are each arranged in the tangential direction between the skirts ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ). 
     
     
       7. An assembly ( 150 ), wherein the assembly comprises a first component ( 100 ) and a connector ( 1 ), which is mounted on the first component ( 100 ) in the preassembly position, as claimed in  claim 3 . 
     
     
       8. The assembly ( 150 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first component ( 100 ) has an aperture ( 110 ) at which the connector ( 1 ) is mounted by means of the fastening means ( 40 ), wherein the aperture ( 110 ) is circular in sections and has one or more radial indentations or bulges ( 111 . 1 ,  111 . 2 ) with which the rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) of the connector is in contact or comes into contact in order to block the rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) in the preassembly position. 
     
     
       9. The assembly ( 150 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the connector ( 1 ) has, on a radially outer wall of the crossbar, a radial projection ( 23 . 1 ,  23 . 2 ) or a radial recess, and wherein the aperture ( 110 ) in the first component ( 100 ) has a corresponding radial recess ( 112 . 1 ,  112 . 2 ) or a corresponding radial projection such that the angular positions by which the crossbar ( 20 ) is insertable into the aperture ( 110 ) of the first component ( 100 ) are limited to at maximum two angular positions. 
     
     
       10. The assembly ( 150 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first component ( 100 ) has, outside the aperture ( 110 ), a collar ( 140 ) adjoining the aperture ( 110 ) or one or more spacers ( 141 ) on a lower side of the first component ( 100 ), wherein the axial lower end surfaces of the collar ( 140 ) or of the one or more spacers constitute the lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ). 
     
     
       11. The assembly ( 150 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the assembly ( 150 ) is fastened to the second component ( 200 ), and the connector ( 1 ) is guided through the aperture ( 210 ) of the second component ( 200 ) and is rotated into the final assembly position such that the crossbar ( 20 ) is hooked behind a radial indentation ( 211 ) of the aperture ( 210 ) of the second component ( 200 ), wherein an axial distance (d_min 2 ) between firstly the upper bearing surfaces ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) or, if present, that point of upper ramp surfaces ( 22 . 1 ,  22 . 2 ) of the crossbar ( 20 ) which is furthest away from the bearing collar ( 10 ) and secondly an axial upper end of the blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) is equal to or greater than the sum of the height (H) of the collar ( 140 ) or of the one or more spacers and the thickness (D) of the second component ( 200 ) at the aperture ( 210 ) of the second component ( 200 ). 
     
     
       12. A connector ( 1 ) for fastening a first component ( 100 ) to a second component ( 200 ) of a motor vehicle, the connector ( 1 ) comprising:
 a bearing collar ( 10 ) for bearing against an upper side ( 120 ) of the first component ( 100 ); 
 a crossbar ( 20 ) having at least one bearing surface ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) for bearing against a lower side ( 220 ) of the second component ( 200 ) and for bracing the second component ( 200 ) against a lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ) when the connector is a final assembly rotational position relative to the first component and the second component; 
 a shaft portion ( 30 ) supporting the crossbar ( 20 ), the shaft portion oriented in an axial direction, which runs from the bearing collar to the crossbar, for passing through corresponding apertures ( 110 ,  210 ) in the components ( 100 ,  200 ); and 
 axially spaced apart projections for fastening the connector ( 1 ) to the first component ( 100 ) in a preassembly position in which the bearing collar ( 10 ) is spaced from the upper side ( 120 ) of the first component ( 100 ), wherein the axially spaced apart projections are axially spaced away from the bearing collar; 
 wherein the connector ( 1 ) has a rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) positioned between the crossbar ( 20 ) and the bearing collar ( 10 ) and configured to block rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) when the connector is in the preassembly position and only to permit rotation of the connector in relation to the first component when the connector ( 1 ) has moved a set axial distance in a direction that moves the bearing collar ( 10 ) toward the upper side ( 120 ) of the first component. 
 
     
     
       13. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) is configured to only permit rotation of the connector ( 1 ) in relation to the first component ( 100 ) when the one or more upper bearing surfaces ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) of the crossbar ( 20 ) are arranged spaced apart at a certain axial minimum distance (d_min 1 ) of at least a material thickness (D) of the second component ( 200 ) or of at least 0.7 mm in relation to the lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ). 
     
     
       14. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the rotation-blocking device ( 50 ) has one or more radially outwardly directed projections as blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) on the shaft portion ( 30 ). 
     
     
       15. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the axially spaced apart projection include at least one radially outwardly protruding upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and at least one radially outwardly protruding lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ), wherein the upper and lower latching projections ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ,  43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) are arranged between the bearing collar ( 10 ) and the crossbar ( 20 ) and wherein the one or more blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) are at least partially arranged axially between the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ). 
     
     
       16. The connector ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) are arranged on a substantially axially oriented skirt ( 41 . 1 ,  41 . 2 ) connected flexibly to the bearing collar ( 10 ) or to the shaft portion ( 30 ). 
     
     
       17. An assembly ( 150 ), wherein the assembly comprises a first component ( 100 ) and a connector ( 1 ), which is mounted on the first component ( 100 ) in the preassembly position, as claimed in  claim 12 . 
     
     
       18. A connector ( 1 ), wherein the connector ( 1 ) is configured to fasten a first component ( 100 ) to a second component ( 200 ) of a motor vehicle, wherein the connector ( 1 ) comprises
 a bearing collar ( 10 ) for bearing against an upper side ( 120 ) of the first component ( 100 ), 
 a crossbar ( 20 ) having one or more upper bearing surfaces ( 21 . 1 ,  21 . 2 ) for bearing against a lower side ( 220 ) of the second component ( 200 ) and for bracing the second component ( 200 ) against a lower bearing surface ( 130 ) of the first component ( 100 ) in a rotated final assembly position, 
 a shaft portion ( 30 ) which supports the crossbar ( 20 ) and is oriented in the axial direction, for passing through corresponding apertures ( 110 ,  210 ) in the components ( 100 ,  200 ), and 
 fastening means ( 40 ) for fastening the connector ( 1 ) to the first component ( 100 ) in a preassembly position, 
 wherein the fastening means ( 40 ) has at least one radially outwardly protruding upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and at least one radially outwardly protruding lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) which is spaced apart axially from the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ), wherein the two latching projections ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ,  43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ) are arranged between the bearing collar ( 10 ) and the crossbar ( 20 ) and wherein the one or more blocking lugs ( 51 . 1 ,  51 . 2 ) are at least partially arranged axially between the upper latching projection ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the lower latching projection ( 43 . 1 ,  43 . 2 ).